Vatican City (AsiaNews) - " Christ has conquered evil fully and finally, but it is up to us, to people in every age, to embrace this victory in our lives and in the realities of history and society,": This was the invitation extended by Pope Francis after his first Regina Caeli prayer with the pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square, who also arrived today in their tens of thousands.
Inviting all to participate in the Marian prayer for the Easter season, the pontiff emphasized the need to pray "that the Paschal that the Paschal mystery might work deeply in us and in our time, in order that hatred give way to love, lies to the truth, revenge to forgiveness, sadness to joy. " But he focused mainly on the urgent need for believers to express "the sacrament they have received in faith in everyday life."
"Yes - he added - Indeed, the Baptism that makes us children of God, and the Eucharist that unites us to Christ, must become life. That is to say: they must be reflected in attitudes, behaviors, actions and choices. The grace contained in the Sacraments Easter is an enormous source of strength for renewal in personal and family life, as well as for social relations. But everything passes through the human heart: if I allow myself to be reached by the grace of the risen Christ, if I let that grace change for the better whatever is not good in me, [to change whatever] might do harm to me and to others, then I allow the victory of Christ to affirm itself in in my life, to broaden its beneficial action. Such is the power of grace! Without grace we can do nothing. And with the grace of Baptism and Holy Communion we can become an instrument of God's mercy. "
"To Express in our lives the sacrament we have received: behold, dear brothers and sisters, our daily work, and, he added,"our daily joy! The joy of being instruments of the grace of Christ, as branches of the vine which is Christ himself, inspired by the sustaining presence of His Spirit!".
After the Regina Caeli, Francis added some greetings to those present. Speaking only in Italian, he said: "I greet each and every one of you with great affection, dear pilgrims who have made your way here to take part in this gathering of prayer from many different continents. I hope that each of you have a serene Monday of the Angles in which the joyful proclamation of Easter powerfully resounds: Christ is risen!" And after a pause he added: "Happy Easter and good lunch to all!"
In the afternoon, Pope Francis made a private visit to the excavations of the Vatican necropolis beneath the St. Peter's Basilica and stopped to pray at the tomb of the apostle.